Michael memorabilia: Check authenticity before buying items

You bought “Thriller” in vinyl, back in the day. It’s been sitting on a shelf for more than two decades. With the death of Michael Jackson, has it grown in value?

Immediately after Jackson’s death June 25, sales of both vinyl and CD recordings by Jackson skyrocketed at Disc Connection, a used recording store in Parkland. eBay listings of Jackson-related memorabilia reportedly jumped from several hundred a day to more than 20,000. But will the frenzy continue forever?

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More collectible, Blom says, will be Jackson memorabilia such as concert programs, fan magazines from the 1970s, lunch boxes or dolls.

The Better Business Bureau issued a news release days after Jackson died, urging fans to spend wisely in their grief. The bureau offered the following advice, which could apply to plenty of purchases, as well as to items related to the King of Pop:

Get educated. Research the value of an item before buying.

Confirm authenticity. This isn’t easy. Autographs can be verified by an expert. But if you’re buying a different kind of item, ask an owner plenty of questions about it, including how the seller acquired it. If the seller can’t answer simple questions, walk away.

Purchase with a credit card. If a sale turns out to be fraudulent, the buyer can dispute the charge with a credit card company.

Buy from a reputable seller. Look for a Better Business Bureau seal online, or check a company out with the bureau at www.bbb.org. On eBay, you can research the seller’s track record by reading buyer reviews.

Beware so-called limited editions. If an item is widely advertised, it’s probably too common to gain much value over the years.